Deworm or Not to Deworm

[RollTideChicken]

I like that idea of a vet checking to poop vesus me checking the intestines.
My flock does look healthy. I've had sudden and mysterious deaths in the past and always wondered what it could have been.
Last hen that died showed no signs at all. She was running around foraging with the others all day, next morning dead.

 

[RollTideChicken]

Oh and thanks for all the advice! Honestly, all of it is great!

 

[getaclue]

RollTide, a fecal float would be best. Don't deworm if there's nothing to deworm. Now is a good time for it, since they aren't laying, and if you had to deworm them, no having to worry about tossing eggs during the withdrawal time.

 

[casportpony]

The only way to know if you need to worm is to have routine fecals done.

Large roundworms and tapeworms are the only two worms that you will see, and even if your birds do have a heavy infestation of them, you might never see them.

So many other worms that poultry and waterfowl can get. They get gizzard worms, capillary worms, cecal worms, oviduct flukes, and more. List of worms here: http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2655&Itemid=2933

@RollTideChicken, gather up a bunch of fresh poop, stir well, and submit it for a fecal test.

 

[casportpony]

I'm in your same situation. A breeder suggest to deworm even if I can't see any sign. I took a medicine to give in the water but now I'm waiting as they are laying and I think it will be a pity throw away eggs for a week...

Which medication was it?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you deworm when they are molting one certain wormer fenbendazole, commonly sold as Safeguard, can cause the feathers to grow back curly and funky-looking. Not necessarily will but “can”. If it affects the flight feathers it might affect them flying, but in general it doesn’t hurt them, they just look funny.

Just an alert so you don’t freak out is the feathers come back funky.

 

[Irmavet]

Which medication was it?

Levamisole

 

[casportpony]

Yesterday I found a pile of poop with worms in it. Only two hens roost there, so it's gotta be one of them. Both hens look and act just fine.

Question for everyone to think about. What would you do if you found such a poo? There is no wrong answer, I'm just curious as to how you would deal with it.

 

[casportpony]

Levamisole

Thanks.

 

[casportpony]

If you deworm when they are molting one certain wormer fenbendazole, commonly sold as Safeguard, can cause the feathers to grow back curly and funky-looking. Not necessarily will but “can”. If it affects the flight feathers it might affect them flying, but in general it doesn’t hurt them, they just look funny.

Just an alert so you don’t freak out is the feathers come back funky.

Did you know that all wormers in that class of wormer can cause feather growth issues, including Valbazen?